new life ramblings (9/25/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Grouplink is this weekend.  Friday night @ 7 PM for men, women and young adults.  Saturday @ 5 PM for married couples.  All you have to do is show up. 
• Sign up for our 40 day fasting and praying.  I love seeing all the people sign up to pray.  You can sign up HERE.
• Follow me on twitter. 
• MarriedLife Live is Friday, Oct 9.  You don’t want to miss this.  Great date night.  Fun concert. I will be sharing on humor in your marriage…the couple who laughs together,  stays together.   You can get more information HERE.
• This week I have been thinking a lot about how cell phones have taken over our culture.  What is proper cell phone etiquette?  This is a conversation we need to have with our kids, church family, employees, loved ones and ourselves.   Here is one principle—be fully present.  Love the one you’re with.  What are some other etiquette rules for cell phone use?
• I had two people personally hand me checks for our new building last week—one check for $500 and one for $30,000.  Amazing.  Both gifts brought tears to my eyes.
• Mark Sunday Oct 4^th on your calendars.  We will “build an altar” in the new building.  Everyone will be given a stone and help build the altar.
• Sunday, Oct 4 we will be doing a video tribute to Pastor Tappero.  Pastor Tappero and the board bought the property we are on 30 years ago.  It will be a powerful moment.  
• Did you know that a donkey will sink in quicksand but a mule will not?
• Eileen Hunter will be at our UNITE ladies event Friday, November 6^th.  The theme of this evening is “Fight Like a Girl”.
• Read James 1: 21-27 to prepare for Sunday.
• Did you know we have 130 ladies at MOPS on Tuesday morning?  Amazing!
• We did a video on Sunday called “Confessions of a Pastor”.  I want every person who calls New Life home to watch it.    You can watch in on www.newliferenton.com
• We have had many requests for the “Taken” series.  We have this available in one package at the resource center.
• We are planning on seeing around 200 adults connect in a small group this weekend. Amazing!
• In the last couple of weeks 200 students have connected in small group. 
• PSALM 92:12-15 “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God….They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

new life ramblings (9/18/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Small groups are beginning this fall.  Group Link is the best way to get into a small group.  Group Link is Sept 25-26.  Sign up HERE. 
• I meet with the Elders on Tuesday nights.  I thank God for these men and woman. They are full of faith and wisdom.
• Starting Point is an incredible environment for people checking out Jesus or beginning their faith journey.  If this is you—check out Starting Point orientation HERE.
• God has put on my heart six “Growth Essentials” for New Life.  I will be discussing these during the next few weeks.  These growth essentials provide us the blueprint for discipleship at New Life.
• GROWTH—Godly Disciplines, Right Relationships, Obey Scripture, Wise Stewardship, Tangible Ministry and Heartfelt Worship. Our discipleship strategy! 
• What an amazing Sunday last week.  Watching people write on the walls of our new building will be a moment I will never forget.  We will have pictures on Sunday!
• People have asked, “Can I still write on the walls?”  YES!  Sunday, Oct. 4^th we are going to “build an altar” in the new church.  Everyone will be given a rock.  We will place the rock at the altar of the new church. (also give people opportunity to write on walls again)
• We did a video on Sunday called “Confessions of a Pastor”.  Many have asked about it.  You can watch in on www.newliferenton.com We have 60 people doing Financial Peace University.  I love seeing people understand the Biblical mandate to be a Wise Steward. 
• Dr. Suess pronounced “Suess” in such a way that it rhymed with “Rejoice”
• Christmas Choir is open for people to join.  Join choir during this fall season to ministry to people.  
• November 1 is our “Big Give” offering.   
• Still a lot of money to come.  We don’t want to phase in the chapel or even slow down construction. We are in the red zone.  It will take everyone to get across the goal line.
• Karen Quintana is our new “Women’s Connection Director”.  She will do a great job being the champion for ladies at New Life. Karen’s first event will be an event in November. Eileen Hunters is speaking. 
• Plant Seeds. Grow Roots. Bear Fruit.
• Our senior high ministry started their EPIC groups this.  Over 80 high school students and leaders involved with discipleship during the week. I love New Life!
• We have had many requests for the “Taken” series.  We have this available in one package at the resource center.
• Typically on Sundays I deep dive into one passage.  This Sunday we are talking about the “one another’s” in the Bible.  Read Romans 12:10 and Gal 6:2.  These are just two of many Scriptures we will study together.

new life ramblings (9/11/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

• Today I thank God for America.  I pray for a spiritual awakening in our Nation. I pray for protection on this great land.
• This Sunday I will be preaching a message burning in my heart.  Three specific burdens God has given me for New Life.
• Read Psalms 1, Psalms 92:12-15 and Matt. 28:18-20 to prepare for Sunday.  I know I ask you every week to read the passage to prepare….but this week is specifically important.
• Small groups are beginning this fall.  Group Link is the best way to get into a small group.  Group Link is Sept 25-26.  Click here for more information.
• We have 60 people doing Financial Peace University.  I love seeing people understand the Biblical mandate to be a Wise Steward. 
• We had Taras Lesko make New Life a piece of art. He presented it to our staff.  Click here to watch video.  Amazing.
• We are baptizing a couple of students this week.  I love seeing people baptized in water.
• This Sunday we will walk through the new building. Write Scriptures on the wall.  Also write names of friends and family we want to see give their lives to Jesus. 
• Christmas Choir is open for people to join.  Join choir during this fall season to minister to people.  
• Last Sunday was standing room only in the 10:30am service.  Fall is a great time to consider getting up earlier and attending the 9:00am service or sleeping in and attending the noon service.
• Women blink nearly twice s much as men.
• Raising $2.6 Million has been our plan from the beginning for the new building.  A month ago I told the church we are $800,000 shy of our goal.  We set November 1^st as our target date to reach this.   $160,000 has already come in.  That is awesome!  Thank you.
• Still a lot of money to come.  We don’t want to phase in the chapel or even slow down construction. We are in the red zone.  It will take everyone to get across the goal line.
• We have added a third lane to exit off our property on 152^nd.  This will make significant improvements on Sunday!
• Karen Quintana is our new “Women’s Connection Director”.  She will do a great job being the champion for ladies at New Life. Karen’s first event will be a ladies event in November. Eileen Hunters is speaking. 
• 28 Sundays left in this building.  Our move in date is Sunday, April 4.  (Easter 2010)
• We sent out the Big Give Commitment card.  I would love to receive these by Sunday, Sept. 13.
• Thank you to everybody who filled out the online survey.  Very helpful as we consider a new schedule with the new building.  

new life ramblings (9/4/09)

Every week (or most weeks) I take a moment to share what is on my heart.  Everything from what is happening at New Life, our culture, in my life and just random stuff.  I call this “New Life Ramblings”.  Enjoy! Feel free to respond back!  Give input!  Ask questions!  Grab a cup of coffee and catch up on what is going on in my mind. 

 

• Sept. 13 is a significant day for New Life.  It will be the first opportunity to walk through our new building. We are going to write on the walls the names of people we have a burden for.  We are all called to plant seeds of the Word of God in the hearts of people far from God.  
• This Sunday we are having the kids (K-5^th grade) join us for worship in the main auditorium.  We are going to pray for this generation after our worship time.  Then the kids will head back to their environments.
• As New Life begins Fall—I would love to see many of you choose 9am or 12pm as your main worship service. Our 10:30am service was standing room only last Sunday.  This is a problem every Pastor loves to have. 
• Simply Worship was amazing.  We have two remaining this fall—Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Wednesday, Nov. 4. 
• This week we had some conflicts between weddings and ministry at New Life.  We navigated through them for sure.  However—I can’t wait until we get the new building.  It will solve SO many problems.
• RCS school started…I love seeing all these kids at New Life throughout the week. One of the many ways we are training this generation.  
• Small groups are beginning this fall.  Group Link is the best way to get into a small group.  Group Link is Sept. 25-26.  You can sign up here.
• On Sept. 13 we are beginning one of the most important series I will ever preach at New Life called “IGrow”.  What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? How do you grow spiritually?
• On Sept. 13 I will share three burdens God has put on my heart for New Life. I can barely wait to preach Sept. 13.
• The local church is called to preach Jesus, the gospel, the Word of God.  Not culture and not opinions. We are called to “plant seeds” of the Word of God. 
• We are adding a third lane to exit off our property on 152^nd.  This will make significant improvements on Sunday!
• Moths have no stomach.
• 30 Sundays left in this building.  Our move-in date is Sunday, April 4.  (Easter 2010)
• We sent out the Big Give Commitment card.  I would love to receive these by Sunday, Sept. 13.  
• We must fight for this generation.  Every parent, grandparent, uncle, niece, school teacher, brother or sister, coach, mentor-every adult in our church,—God wants to rock your world these next few Sundays. 
• Again—remember we will be praying for our kids this weekend (K-5^th grade).